Is the Imprisoned Josh Wolf a Journalist? His Answer Is Yes
I was at the table at a cafe in Memphis during the Media Reform Conference when both Chris Peck, editor of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, and Bill Densmore of the Media Giraffe project interviewed Liz Wolf Spada. She was telling how the federal government has imprisoned her son Josh Wolfe because he would not turn over video footage taken at a San Francisco anarchist rally. He contends he is a journalist. And has continued to maintain that stance even after 150 days in jail.
So is he really a journalist? Read Peck’s editor’s note and listen to Densmore’s audio with his mom and then you decide. Of course, in the era of citizen journalism the answer is very important. Here is part of Peck’s conclusion:
So is Josh a journalist? He declares himself to be one on his Web site, albeit an alternative and independent variety. He was gathering and disseminating news from a public event. But he was also there as an advocate for a cause.
It’s a close call, but Josh probably would fall under a wide umbrella of journalism in this instance.
The next instance may not be the same for Josh — or other independent bloggers, Web site journalists or freelance videographers.
Defining those differences will become a crucial area of law and public judgment.
One thing does seem clear.
Josh Wolf shouldn’t be in jail.
If you have the time, read Peck’s piece. He is a bona fide journalist. Densmore, who was a journalist, is acting as a private citizen who made a podcast. Are both acts of journalism? Of course. Should Peck be treated differently than Densmore? Of course not? Should Wolfe be treated differently than the other two? I don’t think so.
The major media has not paid much attention to this story, certainly not in the way that it covered the Judith Miller case. But each has extremely important implications in a free country.
